JACKSON – As a result of its achievement among student-athlete completion rates in the 2017-18 academic year, Northwest was presented with the David M. Halbrook Award during the annual Mississippi Association of Colleges' conference on Monday, Oct. 1.

Northwest saw 99 percent of its student-athletes graduate or complete all necessary courses, earning the award for the first time in program history.

Student-athlete academics has steadily improved over the last four years, as NWCC saw its completion rate jump from 46 percent in 2013-14 to 82 percent in 2014-15. Last year was the third year in which Northwest has totaled a 90 percent rate, jumping from 91 in 2015-16, 98 in 2016-17 to its latest 99 percent last year.

Additionally, former softball athlete Harley Smith and baseball shortstop Brooks Boolos were recognized for having the highest GPA's among male and female athletes.

A two-time all-conference selection and NFCA Scholar Athlete, Smith boasted a 3.96 overall GPA while ending her Ranger career second all-time in appearances (57), fourth in wins (22) and complete games (23) and fifth in strikeouts (166). She was also a .325 lifetime hitter at the plate, finishing tied for first all-time with six home runs, sixth in doubles (17) and sixth in total bases (107). Boolos finished with a 3.95 GPA and concluded his Northwest career hitting .290 with seven doubles, a triple and 32 RBIs, starting in 60 contests during his two seasons in Senatobia.

Former Ranger baseball athlete Clay Casey was also honored as one of Delta State's individual award winners, after concluding his senior year with a 4.0 GPA and garnering academic honors from CoSIDA and the Gulf South Conference.

The Halbrook awards are presented to the institutional executive officers of the winning colleges and universities with the highest percentage of graduating student athletes. The individual colleges and universities are responsible for establishing criteria for selection of certificate recipients, although the MAC suggests that recipients have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale with all courses attempted.